Professor Paolo Carozza to help steer ND research aimed at preventing sexual abuse

Notre Dame Law Professor Paolo Carozza will help lead a University of Notre Dame initiative to study issues emerging from the sexual abuse crisis in the Catholic Church.

Carozza, who is also director of the Kellogg Institute for International Studies, will serve on a six-member steering committee that will solicit proposals for research addressing the crisis and select grants to be funded by Notre Dame, according to University President Rev. John Jenkins, CSC.

The awards will include small grants to support early stage research with the potential to expand to significant projects, as well as grants to fund larger projects.

“The University is well positioned to make critical contributions to the Catholic Church to prevent sexual abuse and to encourage constructive reflection and reforms in the Church,” Jenkins said in a statement. He added that Notre Dame can also assist society generally in the effort to eliminate conditions leading to sexual abuse.

Notre Dame will provide as much as $1 million over the next three years for the research initiative. Funded projects will address some aspect of the sexual abuse crisis that will serve the Church, both U.S. and worldwide, such as: its history and causes, ensuring safe environments for minors and adults, possible reforms, and deepening the Church’s sense of shared responsibility by all its members.

Other members of the steering committee are:

Robert J. Bernhard, vice president for research, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering (committee chair)

Julie M. Braungart-Rieker, professor and director of the William J. Shaw Center for Children and Families

Timothy Matovina, professor and chair, Department of Theology

Maura A. Ryan, vice president and associate provost for faculty affairs and professor of theology

Ann E. Tenbrunsel, David E. Gallo Professor of Business Ethics

Originally published by Ashley Rowland at kellogg.nd.edu on April 30, 2019.